Boot or shoe polishing machine



'(No Model.) 4' Sheets-Sheetl.

t E. o. BICKNELL. BOOT 0R SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

No. 526,362. Patented Sept. 18, 1894.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B.o\.BIeKNELL. BOOT 0R SHOBPOLISEING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 18, V1894.

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E 0 BIOKNELL l BOOT OR SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

PatentedSept. 18, 1894.

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E. o. BIGKNBLL. BOOT 0R SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

No.\526,362. Patented St L18 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT L Grrr-CE. N

EMERY o. BICKNELL, `or BosToN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATIONformng part of Letters Patent No. 526,362, datedsepternioer 18, 1894.

Application iiled March l2, 1894. Serial No. 503,272. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, EMEEY O. BIoKNELL,of

Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State ,ofl

Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Boot or Shoe Polishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for polishing boots and shoes, and is an improvement upon the machine shown and described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States filed August 19, 1892, Serial No. 443,475.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide an improved construction of side brushes, whereby they will conform more perfectly to the contour of the shoe;

and to provide improved means for transferring the blacking to the brushes.

To these ends, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Figure l shows a perspectivel View of the machine in its case. Fig. 2 shows alongitudinal section. Fig. 3 Shows an elevation, as viewed from one side, with the casing in section. Fig. 4 showsan elevation, as viewed from the opposite side, Withfthe casing in section.` Fig. 5 shows a top plan view, with the casing removed. Figs. 6 and 7 show detail views of one of the sidebrushes. Fig. 8 shows a top plan view of the blacking receptacle, with a portion of the cover broken away. Figs. 9 to linclusiveshow details of devices employed for setting the machine in operation by means i of a nickel which is dropped into a slot. y In the drawings, the reference letter a designates the exterior casing of the machine, in the front side of which is an opening a. to receive the shoe 'which is to be polished; and

in the upper side of which is an opening 0.2,

in which the heel of the shoe maybe inserted. The casing is constructed so that a portion 'a3 extends below the opening a! and into the interior of the machine, so as toform` a lrest 1 for the shoe. Said portion a3 inclines up#` `wardly as it recedes, so as to support the toe of the shoe in proper position.

A pair of rotary polishing brushes haveposition at opposite sides of the front opening a', and are both mounted on ashaft b, which `extends transversely of the machine, and is supported in bearings below the rest a3. Each of theserotary brushes comprises a central support or hub b', iixed on the shaft b and substantially square in cross-section, a jointear h2 being formed on each of its four sides; four segmental frames b3, pivoted to the j'ointears b2 respectively, by means ofpins b4; and segment shaped `brushes c, pivotally supported in the frames b3 respectively. Each of `the frames b3 is sustained in a position extending substantially at right angles to the shaft b, by flat springs c', rigidly secured at their inner ends to the hub' b', and bearing at their outer ends against projections o2 a't the outer ends of the frame. 'The pivots c3 of each brush c have such position that porltions of said brush extend on each side of the pivots, and the brush is yieldingly held. in a positionwhere it extends in substantially the same plane as the frame by means of a flat spring c4, which bears against its rear side on each side of the pivots, and is secured at its inner end to the frame b3.

l It will be Vobserved that, in a brush of the construction described, each section is a substantial quadrant, and the whole brush is a` four-leaved structure, and is circular in-general outline. fThe two `side-brushes are so located with respect to each other that, when a shoe is inserted between them, the sections which the shoe engages will be spread apart, p and it will be seen that, by the peculiar con-` struction which I employ, the brushes will con form perfectly to the contour of the shoe,

`and in operation will reach every part of its surface.

The brush d, which acts on the toe of the shoe, is supported at a position above and back of the side-brushes, and below the openingdz` in the casing. This brush has a simi- `lar form to that shown in my former application above referred to. All the brushes are connected by gearing e, or it may be belting,

and are driven from a motor d contained `within the casing 01 the gearing or belting IOO being so arranged that the brushes will be revolved in a direction which tends to draw the shoe into the machine.

The blacking for the side-brushes is contained in liquid form in a receptacle f, mounted at the bottom portion of the casing ct below the said side-brushes, and shown in the present instance as a drawer, arranged t0 slide in ways f in the casing, so that it may be readily removed, for the purpose of replenishing the supply of blacking or for any other purpose. The liquid blacking is intended to remain at the bottom of the receptacle, and the receptacle Vis filled with an absorbent material, such as a sponge g, which will take the blacking through its pores by capillary attraction.

A semi-circular slab is supported on a shaft h', which rests in bearings on the upper side of the receptacle f, and said slab may occupy a position within the receptacle, where it is in contact with the absorbent material g, and receives blackin g on its sides therefrom. The slab is preferably composed of a central section h2, of Wood, to which a bearing h3 is secured, and pieces of slate h4 fastened to opposite sides of said central portion.

- The top of the blacking receptacle is closed by a pair of covers t', hinged to its two ends, and one of said covers extends over the slab, while the other has an opening t" to permit said slab to p ass out of the receptacle. The slab can move through only one-half of a revolution, however, as it then encounters the upper side of the other cover t'. When the slab is moved out of the receptacle, it occupies a position where the brushes c, in rotation, pass over its sides and take blacking therefrom.

A stationary slab j, of stone or any other suitable material, is supported above the blacking receptacle and between the two side-brushes, and this stationary slab is formed with a semicircular concavity j to receive the movable slab when it is turned on its pivot. The object of providing this stationary slab is to afford a surface over which the brushes may pass after taking blacking from the movable slab, whereby such blacking may `be properly distributed over the brushes, and, when applied to the shoe, will have the desired effect. The toe-brush d is supplied with blacking in a similar manner,

from a receptacle 7c, which is supported on the upper end of a lever la', pivoted to a stationary support and having a downwardlyextending portion receiving a set-Screw k2,

l which bears against a portion of the casing Any suitable means may be provided for oscillating the movable slabs to supply blacking to the brushes at the will of the operator. Those l have chosen to illustrate here cornprise the following parts: A sector n, pivoted to the end of the receptacle f, is geared with a pinion rt on the shaft h', through an intermediate gear n2, and a rod or pitman n3 carries a pin n4 at one end, engaging a slot in said sector, and at the opposite end is connected with a lever m5 pivotedv to a stationary support and projecting at its upper end through a slot in a pull-rod ne having a handle n?, projecting from the front side of the machine. A rod or link ns connects the lever 'm5 with a sector n, in gear with a pinion n10 on the journal of the hemispherical block m. It will now'be seen that, upon pulling out the handle a7, the sectors n and n" will be moved on their pivots, and will cause the slab h and block m to be turned on their pivots to positions where the brushes may take blacking from them. A spring n restores the parts to their normal positions, when the handle 917 is released. The handle nl" is intended to be operated by the person whose shoes are being blacked. I also provide a handle o, at f the rear of the machine, which may be operated by an attendant in charge of the machine to accomplish the same purpose. This handle o is on the end of a pull-rod o', which is connected with an arm o2 of the lever 19,5. The pull-rods 'a6 and o' are slotted where they connect with the lever W5, so that the operation of one pull-rod-does not atfect the other.

It is evident that lineal racks might be arranged in mesh with the pinions on the journals of the slabs instead of the sector-shaped racksv and operated by a suitably arranged lever.

The machine is designed to be operated asa nickel-in-the-slot machine, and the mechanism here shown by which the insertion of a nickel sets the machine in operation will next be described.

A slotp is formed in the front portion of the casing a, and is of a size to receive a nickel. A chute p' extends from said slot to an infclined trough p2, which leads to a till p8 incased at the front of the machine. At a suitable point, the trough p2 is provided with a pivotal section p4, and the trough has a downturned lip p5 at the front end of said pivotal section, so that the latter has to move downward on its pivot before a nickel can pass the lip p5 and continue through the trough, which has an offset p6 at this point. The trough has sufficient width to allow the nickel to tilt slightly when it enters the same, and it occupies such a position when it arrives on the pivotal section p4. The latter is formed with a projecting arm p7, which is acted upon by a spring p8, whose function is to hold the pivotal section p4 in the position shown in Fig. 9, where it forms an obstruction to the passage of the nickel. The arm p7is provided witha lipor catch p9, which engages a flattened portion or web Q, formed on a shaft Q', which is supported in stationary bearings on the machine frame. Said shaft carries a square head Q2, having two opposite sides covered by insulation Q3. A pair of contact-springs Q4 are arranged to bear With spring-pressure against opposite sides of the head Q2, and these contact-springs form terminals of an electric circuit, which includes the motor d. In the normal condition of the machine, the contactstrips Q4L bear against the insulation Q3, and the circuit is broken and the motor is dormant. The shaft Q is connected by bevel-gears Q5 with a vertical shaft or spindle Q6, which carries a handle or crank Q7 on the upper side of the machine casing. When a nickel is introduced into the slot p, it falls through the chute 19', and rolls down the trough p2 and on to the pivotal section p4, which it depresses sufficiently to raise thev catch p9 out of engagement with the iiattened portion Q of the shaft Q. The handle Q7 may now be turned, and through the gearing Q5 rotates the shaft Q and turns the head Q2 to a position Where the contact-springs Q4 may bear against the uncovered sides ofthe said head, and thereby the circuit is completed and the motor d rendered active, so that it drives the brushes. As the head Q 2 is turned, its corner acts against the arm p7, and elevates the same to a suflicient degree to permit the passage of a nickel by the lip'pf, so that it may continue through the trough p2 to the till p3. v

When the polishing ot' a pair of shoes has been completed, thelhandle Q7 is turned back, and the motoriis cutout by the turning of the head Q2. y

It is evidentl that the constructions here shown for carrying out my invention may be varied in many particulars, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,which is not, therefore, limited to such constructions.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a Way of constructing and using the same, although without attemptingto set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, it is declared that what is claimed is l. In a machine for polishing boots and shoes, a brushing device, comprising a rotary support, a frame pivotally connected therewith and spring-actuated, and a brush pivotally supported in said frame and yieldingly held in position, substantially "as described.

2. In a machine n,for polishing boots and shoes, a brushing device, comprising a rotary support, a plurality of segmental frames pivotally connected with said rotary support and spring-actuated, and brushes pivotally supported in said frames respectively and yieldv ingly held in position, substantially as described.

3. A machine for polishing boots and shoes comprising in its construction a movable brush, a blacking receptacle containing absorbent material, a pivoted oscillatory semicircular block or slab, adapted to take position in said receptacle, and meansfor oscillating said block or slab at intervals into and out of position for contact with the brush, as set forth.

4. A machine for polishing boots and shoes comprising in its construction a movable brush, a blacking receptacle containing absorbent material, a pivoted oscillatory block or slab adapted to take position in saidl receptacle, a pinion on the pivotal support of the block or slab, toothed devices for engaging said pinions for oscillating said block or slab at intervals into and out of position for contact with the brush, as set forth.

5. A machine for polishing boots and shoes, comprising in its construction a movable brush, a blacking receptacle, a movable slab arranged to transfer blacking from the receptacle to the brush, and a stationary slab over whichl the brush passes after taking blacking from the movable slab.

' 6. A machine for polishing boots and shoes comprising in its construction a movable brush, a blacking receptacle, a block or slab pivotally supported and adapted to take position in said receptacle and also to move to a position Where the brush will encounter it, a rack meshing with a pinion on the journal of the pivotal slab, and a lever for operating the rack.

7. A machine for polishing boots and shoes comprising in its construction side-brushes, a toe-brush, means for driving the same, blacking receptacles adjacent to the side-brushes and toe-brushes respectively, pivotal transferring blocks or slabs, racks in meshes with pinions on the journals of the slabs, and a lever for operating said slabs.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of March, A. D. 1894.

p EMERY O. BICKNELL.' Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLEY, A. D. HARRISON.

IOO 

